Fuel control apparatus



April 25, 1960 J. l.. DEvERsE 2,934,079

FUEL CONTROL APPARATUS 1a J4 i@ INVENTOR. Jose/v en/ense April 26, 1960 Filed Feb. '7. 1955 J. L. DEVERSE FUEL CONTROL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. Jsepfz l. Deren se BY nited States Patent FUEL CNTROL APPARATUS `loseph L. Deverse, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Baso Inc., a corporation of Wisconsin Application February 7, 1955, Serial No. 486,395

8 Claims. (Cl. 137-66) This invention relates to improvements in fuel control apparatus.

It is a well know practice in the art of controlling the ow of fuel to iiuid fuel burners to provide safety shutoff devices effective to shut off the supply of fuel to the main burner of the apparatus and also, if desired, to the pilot burner therefor upon occurrence of a predetermined condition. Such safety shut-off devices may have electromagnetic control means powered from a thermoelectric generator subject to the heat of the pilot burner ame to effect 100 percent shut-oi of the fuel in the event of pilot failure. Further, it is well known in the art to provide means for permitting fuel ow to` the pilot burner while interrupting fuel ow to the main burner during a resetting operation so that the thermo electric generator is heated by the pilot burner flame prior to fuel ow to the main burner. The reset means is usually of the manual type wherein a reset plunger or stem is reciprocatably depressed to afford fuel ow to the pilot burner. It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a pilot fuel valve having rotary actuating means operable to open said pilot valve in response to reciprocatory resetting movement of a reset stem, to maintain the same in open position during ignition of a pilot burner and to close the same upon release of the safety shut-off device.

Another object is to provide a fuel control device of the class described wherein the main fuel valve is held closed during resetting of the electromagnetic safety shutoff mechanism to thus provide ow interruption.

' Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved control device of the character described wherein fuel flows to the pilot burner during a resetting operation ignition of which energizes the electromagnetic safety shut-off mechanism and magnetically latches the armature thereof to the electromagnet, release of the reset mechanism while the armature is thus latched effecting opening movement of the main fuel valve and retention of the pilot fuel valve in its open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved control device of the character described wherein the electromagnetic safety shut-olf mechanism includes an electromagnet and an armature which are juxtaposed in open valve position and in reset position, and which are spaced apart a substantial distance in released or closed position, there being cam means connected to said electromagnet and armature and positioned for actuation of the pilot fuel valve to hold the latter open when the armature and electromagnet are juxtaposed, said cam means being operable to hold the pilot fuel valve open continuously during movement of the electromagnet and armature from reset to open valve position and to permit closure of said pilot fuel Valve with the safety shut-off valve upon predetermined separation of said electromag-v net and armature.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fuel control device of the character described hav ing a pilot fuel passage and a main fuel passage which are separated from each other, the fuel ow through both of said passages being under the control of the safety shut-off means, whereby the main fuel passage may be connected to one fuel source, for example through a thermostatically controlled valve, and the pilot fuel passage may be connected to another fuel source or to the same source at a point upstream from said thermostatically Icontrolled valve, the ow of pilot fuel thus being independent of the operation of the thermostatically controlled valve. The improved device, therefore, permits vthe insertion of the thermostatically controlled valve into the main fuel line upstream from said device, while at the same time providing safety shut-olf of both main and pilot fuel.

Another object is to provide a device of the class de scribed wherein flow interruption of main fuel is provided during resetting regardless of whether or not the fuel passages to the main and pilot burners are separate and independent.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fuel control device of the class described which is so constructed that a condition responsive valve may be employed upstream or downstream of the main fuel flow control valve to render fuel flow to the main burner subject to predetermined conditions while retaining safety shut-off control over the main and pilot b ur'ner fuel in the improved control device.

Another object is to provide an independent pilot fuel valve having rotary actuating means whereby the'use of O rings in providing a gas-tight seal around such rotary actuating means is appreciably more efficient than the use thereof with actuating means of the reciprocatory type.

Another object is to provide rotary pilot valve actuating means and connection between the same and reciprocatably operable reset means so as to reduce the occurrence of objectionable bending forces which are prevalent in systems wherein reciprocating reset movement is transmitted to a reciprocatably operable valve member.

Another object is the provision of a control device having an independent pilot fuel valve having a rotary operating mechanism whereby the valve and operating mecha.- nism parts are less susceptible of excessive wear and greater fuel ow capacity is provided than with pilot valve of the reciprocating type.

A more specific object is the provision in a control device ofthe aforementioned character of connecting means between the reset stem and the pilot and main valves whereby bending or twisting forces applied to the reset stern will not be transmitted to either of the valves to cause faulty operation.

Another object is the provision of a control device of the class described which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and positive in operation.

The vnovel features which I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The device itself, however, both as to its-organization and mode of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a fuel flow control device embodying the present invention and schev -magnetic safety shutoif mechanism of the improved cou-J trol device in reset position and showing the operative coaction. between the pilot valve actuating means and said mechanism; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View similar to Figure 3 showing the safety shut-off mechanism in retracted or open valve position and showing the operative coaction between the pilot valve actuating means and the main VNumeral 22 designates a second valve body portion secured to the valve body portion in any well known manner with a sealing gasket 98 disposed therebetween. The body portion 22 has a pilot fuel inlet 24 and a pilot fuel outlet 26 connectedby a pilot fuel passage 28. Contiguous sections of pilot fuel supply pipe 30 are connected to the pilot inlet 24 and pilot outlet 26, and the section connected to said outlet 26 may be connected to a pilot burner 32 juxtaposed with respect to main burner 20.

The second valve body portion 22 is formed with a cavity 36 within which is disposed an electromagnetic safety shut-off or hood. assembly 37 comprising an' en` adjacent the pilot burner 32 in heat lreceiving relation therewith. The thermocouple 58 is electrically secured to one end of a pair of conductors 62 while the other end of said pair of conductors is connected to the aforementioned coupling member to provide electrical continuity from thermoelectric generator 58 to electromagnet winding 45. I prefer that thegconductors 62 take the form of a coaxial type thermocouple lead.

closure 38 and having a valve stem 42 extendingfrom one end' thereof. A main fuel flow control member or valve 40 is attached to valve stem 42 and is disposed for 'cooperation with a valve seat 34 within valve body portion 10 for control of communication between inlet 12 and outlet 14iandv hence iluid fuel flow to main burner 20.V I prefer to employ pivotal mounting means for securement of said' valve member to valve stem 42 to permit of relative movement therebetween for purposes of insuring firm' seating engagement between valve 40 and valve seat 34.`

Secured within enclosure 38 is a substantially U-shaped l core member 44 formed with pole faces 44a and having an electromagnet winding wound about the leg portions thereof. Fixed to said valve stem 42 withinsaid enclosure 38 is an armature member 46 for cooperation with core member 44. The core member 44 and armature member 46 are magnetically'permeable first andv second movable members, and the winding 45 when energized comprises coupling means for retaining said members in attractive position when moved thereto.

Disposed on one end of said hood assembly enclosure 38, is a spring retainer 48 formed with a through opening'to slidably permit valve stem 42t'o move relative thereto. Positioned between valve member 40 and spring retainerY 48 is a compression spring 50 for biasing the valve member 40 to its flow-preventing position and the armature 46 towards itsseparated or released position. Disposed between body portion 10 and the spring retainer 48 is a compression spring 54 for biasing the enclosure 38, and thereby the electromagnet core 44 and winding 4 5, toward their initial or normal retracted position shown in Figures l and 4.

The second valve body portion 22 is further formed with an opening 55 within which is insulatedly `mounted` an electrical contact member 56. One end of the elec- Vtromagnet winding 45 is connected in circuit with said contact 56 for example by means of a flexible lead, and the other end of winding 45 is grounded to the second valve body portion 22 through a similar exible lead. The opening 55 in body portion 22 is counterbored and formed with fastening means 57 such as threads for receipt of an electrical coupling member (not shown)- A thermoelectric generator or thermocouple 58 Vformed of apair of dissimilar metals S9 and 6i? and having a hot junction 58a and a pair of cold junctions 58h is disposed A reset stern 64 is slidably positionedwithih an opening formed in body portion 22- for engagement with an j,

end wall of enclosure l38.- Said stem 64 has its inner end extending through and spun over against a washer 65 whereby said stem is prevented from being removed from body portion 22. The other end of the stem 64 is formed with a manually engageable button'i66. `I prefer to employ an O-ring 68 between reset stem 64 and valve body portion 22 to prevent passage of fluid fuel therebetween.

. Attached to enclosure 38, as by meansof threaded extended portion 70 and securing nut 72, is rst connecting means in the form'of an L-shaped cam or connec tion member 74 Awhich is movable with said enclosure and electromagnet core member 44 during a resetting operation. The cam member 74 has a portion 74a (Figures 3 -and 4) extending parallel to the axis of movement of said enclosure 38. Fixedly secured to the valve member 48 is second connecting means in the form of an L-shaped cam or connection member 76 having a portion 76a extending parallel to extent 74a of cam member 74 but spaced laterally therefrom as shown inV Figures v3 and 4. Y

The second valve body portion-22 isY formed with a valve seat78 as shown inlF-igures .1 and 2 and schematically depicted in Figures 3 and v4. Control means in the` form of a valvesmember 80 Vformed of rubber or otherresilient material cooperates with Vthe valve seat 78 and v is movable between first and second flow controlling positions with respect to the valve seat 78 for control of communication between pilot fuel inlet 24 and pilot fuel outlet 26 Vand hence fuel ow to pilot burner 32. `Valve member 80 is formed with-a resilient valvel stern 82 having a cylindrical main portion 82a andan enlarged end portion 82b for cooperation with actuating meansfor said valve member 80. l prefer to have'valve member 80 and valve stern 82 molded as a unitary structure to facilitate manufactureK thereof and to eliminate need for fastening means therebetween. The valve actuating means comprises an operating lever 84 having onek of its ends Vformed with an aperture to be forcibly slipped over enlargedend portion 82b during assembly and for loosely fitting around main portion V82a of stem 82 The other end of operating lever 84 is secured to an operating shaft 86 which is rotatably mounted in valve body portion 22. The inner end of the operating shaft 86 is formed with diametrically oppositely projecting ears 88, said ears each being positioned in the path of .travel of a separate one of the cam or connecting members 74 and 76, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The operating shaft 86 is rotatably biased in a valve closing direction by meansof a torsion spring 90 posi- `tioned as shown in Figures 1 and 2. I prefer to employ an O-ring between shaft86 and valve body portion 22 to prevent passage of iluid fuel therebetween. Acover 92 having a protruding central portion is fixedly Vmounted on valve body portion 22 by means of screws 94,- and l prefer to employ a gasket V96 between said cover andv saidy body portion to hermetically seal the actuating.,

means for valve. member 80 while affording easy access thereto for repair or other purposes.` 1

The control device disclosed in the drawings operates as follows:

With valves 40 and 80 in their flow-preventing or first ow controlling positions (Figure 1) whereby fuel is not permitted to ow to either mainV burner 20 or pilot burner 32, hood assembly 37 is in. its initial orretracted position. In order to eiect ignition of pilot burner 32, it is agee-1,0%

first necessary to actuate reset stem 64 by depressing reset button 66. The resulting resetting movement of stem 64 moves enclosure 38 in a direction to cause magnet core 44 to be moved from its initial to its attracted position With respect to Aarmature 46, Such movement of enclosure 38 causes the end surface of portion 74a of cam or connection member '74 to engage one of the ears 88 on operating shaft 86 (as shown in Figure 3), whereby said shaft is caused to be rotated against the bias of the torsion spring 9i) and in a direction to move pilot valve 80 to its flow-permitting or second ow controlling position. During depression of reset stem 64, the aforementioned resulting engagement of core member 44 with armature 46 causes the depressing force on reset button 66 to be transmitted to valve member 40 to thereby maintain the latter in its flow-preventing position, thus affording what is commonly referred to in the gas control art as fiow interruption of fuel supply to the main 'burner 20.

With pilot valve 89 in its now-permitting position, fluid fuel is permitted to ow to pilot burner 32. The fuel emitted from pilot burner 32 may be ignited in any desired manner.

Ignition of said pilot burner 32 effects heating of hot junction 58a of the generator 58, causing said generator to supply thermoelectric current for energization of the electromagnet winding 45 and the ux generated thereby magnetically latches or couples the core 44 and armature 46 with sufiicient force to overcome the bias of spring 50. On release of the reset button 66 compression spring 54 returns the enclosure 38 and magnet core 44 to their initial or retracted positions and simultaneously moves valve member 40 to its now-permitting position. If the f rce on reset button 66 should be released at any moment prior to attainment of the aforementioned magnetic latching, the enclosure 38 is returned to `its retracted position by spring 54 without moving valve member 49 to its flow-permitting position and at the same time permitting the pilot valve member 80 to return to its flow-preventing position under the bias of torsion spring 9G. Pilot valve closure is due to removal of extent 74a of cam or connection member 74 from contact with its respective ear 88 on operating shaft 86.

Upon movement of valve member 40 to its iiow-permitting position, however, extent 76a of cam or connection member 76 is caused to engage the other ear 88 on shaft 86, as shown in Figure 4, to hold the pilot valve open as long as the main valve stays open. Thus, disengagement of the first ear 88 from extent 74a does not effect return of valve member 80 to its ow-preventing position when the main valve is open. With movement of the valve member 40 to its flow-permitting position, fuel is, of course, permitted to ow to main burner 20 through conduit 18.

If, for any reason, the ame of pilot burner 32 should be extinguished, the hot junction 58a of thermoelectric generator S8 will be cooled by the surrounding atmosphere thus deenergizing electromagnet Winding 45 to a point where the magnetic attraction between core member 44 and armature 46 is insufficient to overcome the force of spring 50, whereupon the force of said spring moves valve member 40 to its flow-preventing position to interrupt fuel flow to main burner 20. Such movement of valve member 40 also effects disengagement of the extent 76a of cam or connection member 76 from the coacting ear 88 on shaft 86 to thereby permit torsion spring 90 to return pilot valve 80 to its How-preventing position terminating fuel ow to pilot burner 32.

It is thus seen that applicant has devised a structure wherein reciprocatory resetting movement of the electromagnetic safety shut-off mechanism is operable to effect rotation of a rotatably operable independent pilot valve actuator, said structure providing iiow interruption for pilot burner ignition and also providing 100 percent safety shut-0E of the fuel in the event of pilot burner f failure.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a control device, a first magnet member biased to a rst position, a second armature member biased away from said first member to a first position and movable against said bias to a second position, said first member being movable against its bias to a second position engaging said second member, a shaft rotatable between first and second positions, a control member operatively associated with said shaft and movable between first and second controlling positions by rotation of said shaft between its first and second positions, cooperating abutment means on said first member and said shaft operable to rotate said shaft to its second position and to move said control member `to its said second position on movement of said first member to its said second position, abutment v means on said second member cooperating with the abutment means on said shaft and operable to retain said shaft and control member in their said second positions on movement of said second member to its said second position, and means coupling said firstand second members when said first member is moved against its bias to its second position in engagement with said second member, the bias of said first member being operable, on release of said first member, to return the latter to its first position and move the coupled second member therewith to its said second position.

2. In a control device, a first member biased to a first position, a second member biased away from said first member to a first position and movable against said bias to a second position, said first member being movable against its bias to a second position engaging said second member, a shaft rotatable between first and second positions, a control member operatively associated with said shaft and movable between first and second controlling positions by rotation of said shaft between its first and second positions, cooperating abutment means on said first member and said shaft operable to rotate said shaft and to move said control member to its said second position on movement of said first member to its said second position, abutment means on said second member cooperating .With the abutment means on said shaft and operable to retain said shaft and control member in their said second positions on movement of said second member to its said second position, and means coupling said first and second members when said first member is moved against its bias to its second position in engagement with said second member, the bias of said first bias to a second position, a fluid ow control member on A said second member being in flow-preventing position when said second member is in its first position and in now-permitting position when said second member is in its second position, said rst member being movablev against its bias to a second position engaging said second member, a shaft rotatable between first and second positions, a control member operatively associated with said shaft and movable between first and second controlling positions by rotation of said shaft between its first and second positions, cooperating abutment means on said first member and said shaft operable to rotate said shaft i movement of said second member to its second position v moving said fiuid how control member from its flowpreventing position to its flow-permitting position, and means coupling said first and second members when said first .member is moved against its bias to its second position in engagement with said second member, whereby the bias of said rst member, on release thereof efi'ects return of the latter to its first position and movement of the coupled second member therewith to its second position vto thus effect said retention of said control member' in its'second position and said movement of said uid flow control member to its now-permitting position.

l4. In a control device, a first member biased to a first position, a secondV member biased away from said first member to a first position and movable against said bias to a second position, a fluid flow control member on said second member being in flow-preventing position when said 'second member is in its first position and in flow-permitting position when said second member is in its'second position, said first member being movable against its bias to a second position engaging said second member, a shaft rotatable between first and second positions, a control member operatively associated with said shaft and movable between first and second controlling positions by rotation of said shaft between its firstV and second positions, cooperating abutment means on said first member and said shaft operable to rotate said shaft and to dispose said control member in vits second position on movement of said first member to its second position, such movement of said first member to its second position maintaining said'fiuid fiow control member in its flow-preventing position, abutment means on said second member cooperating with the abutment means on said shaft and operable to retain said shaft and said control member in their said second positions on movement of said second member to its said second position, such movement of said second member to its second position moving said uid flowv control member from its how-preventing position' to its flow-permitting position,- and condition responsive coupling means for said first and second members operable during existence of a given condition when said first member is moved against its bias to its second positionV in engagement with said second member to couple said first and second members, whereby th'e bias of said first member, on releaseY of said first member when coupled to said second memberl effects return of said first member to its first position and move.`

movable against said bias to a second position, aY fluid flow control member fixed to said armature and being inflow-preventing position when said armature isy in itsY Vfirst position and in How-permitting positionwhen said armature is in its second position, saidY magnet7 member being movable against its bias to a second position engaging' said armature, a shaft rotatable between first and second positions, Ya control member operatively associated witl'rsaid shaft and movable between first and second controlling positions by rotation of said shaft between its first and second positions, cooperating abutment means on said magnet member and said shaft operable to rotate said shaft and to dispose said control member in its second position on movement of said magnet member to its second position, such movement of said magnet member to its second position maintaining said fluid flow control member-in its flow-preventing position, abutment means on said armature cooperating with the abutment means on said shaft and operable to retain said shaft and said control member in their said second positions on movement of said armature -to its said second position,

such movement of said armature to its second position.

moving said fiuid fiow control member from its flowpreventing position to its now-permitting position, and thermoresponsive coupling means for said magnet member and armature operable during existence'of a given condition when said magnet member is moved against its bias to its second position in engagement with said armature to couple said magnet member and armature, whereby the bias of said magnet member, on release of said magnet member when coupled to said armature effects return of said magnet member to its first position and movement of the coupled armature therewith to its second position to thus effect said retention of said control member in its second position and said movement of said fiuid fiow `control member to its flow-permitting position.

6. In a control device, an assembly comprising first and second movable members having relative attracted and separated positions, coupling means to retain said members in relative attracted position when moved thereto, means for effecting movement of said first member from an initial position separated from said second member to an attracted position relative to said second member, means for returning said first member to its initial position while said second member is coupled therewith, control means actuatable from a first controlling position to a second controlling position, rotatably operable actuating means for control means, and first and second connecting means movable with said first and second members respectively coasting with said actuating means, movement of said first member from its said initial position to its said attracted position through its said connecting means effecting rotation of said actuating means a given amount for actuation of said control means from its first to its second controllingV position,Y said second member ,through its said-connecting means maintaining said actuating means inthe position to which it is rotated by said first' member movement and thereby maintaining said control meansin its second controlling posiwhile said members areA coupled.

7. In a control device, an assembly comprising first and second movable members vhaving relative attracted and separated positions, couplingmeans to retain said members in relative attracted position when moved thereto, means for effecting movement of said first member from an initial position separated from said second member to an attracted position relative to said second member, means for returning said firstrmember to its initial position while said second member is coupled therewith, control means actuatable from a first controlling position to a second controlling position, rotatably operable actuating means for said control means, and means movable with said members respectively i cooperating with said actuating means lto effect rotation of said actuating means a given amount for actuation of said control means from its first to its second controlling positions with movement ofV said first member from its initial position to said i second member to a second position when said members are coupled, release of said coupling means permitting return of said second member to its initial position, reverse rotation of said actuating means and return of said control means to its iirst controlling position.

8. In a control device, an assembly comprising rst and second magnetically permeable members having rela tive attracted and separated relation, reset means operable when said members are in separated relation for moving said rst member from a irst position toward a second position and into attracted relation with said second member, coupling means operable to hold said rst and second members in attracted relation, means for returning said first member to its initial position, control means operable to move between a first controlling position and a second controlling position, means including a rotatable member for moving said control means between its controlling positions, and connection means between said rotatable member and said magnetic mem bers operable upon movement of said rst member from its rst position to its said second position to rotate said rotatable member and thereby actuate said control means toward its second controlling position, said connection means upon coupling of said other member to said one member being operable to maintain said rotatable member in the position to which it is rotated by said first member movement and thereby to maintain said control means in its said second controlling position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,375,569 McCarty May 8, 1945 2,590,674 Bodey Mar. 25, 1952 2,726,716 Russell Dec. 13, 1955 2,834,367 Mihm May 13, 1958 

